Life’s little luxuries are often what keep us going. Pulling out a shiny, heavy gold bullet of lipstick in your perfect color in the midst of a chaotic day can feel like a little oasis, a momentary mental clearing dedicated to you and only you. Makeup is always fun—and the fancier the makeup, the more fun to be had. Here are my top picks for a quick and easy face of luxury makeup this spring:
For primer, I love Bonjout Beauty’s Le Balm, a multipurpose solid serum that can be used in 8 ways, from primer to eye cream to lip care. I take a pearl-sized amount and warm it up in my fingers, then pat it over my face. Powered by 68 highly concentrated actives, this unique serum leaves skin dewy but without residue. It’s packed with stem cells, ceramides, peptides, vitamins, and more, and is made up of 100% active ingredients (other serums often have only 30% actives, with water making up 70% of the composition). It’s such a treat to use, and unlike anything I’ve ever tried.
When the weather gets as warm as it has been lately, I usually skip foundation. A product I just discovered and fell in love with is Lancome’s Teint Idole Ultra Wear Care & Glow Serum Concealer. I try a lot of concealers, and this one just might be my new favorite. I found my perfect match in 115C, and it blends so flawlessly with a makeup sponge. I find that with some concealers, wearing them on only certain parts of the face can have a sort of uneven effect; this one, however, melted in so beautifully and gave me the illusion of perfect skin.
To add some color, I recommend the Chantecaille Philanthropy Cheek Shades. As the name suggests, proceeds from this purchase go toward a good cause, which varies by shade. I chose Butterfly Bliss, a light pink with soft rosy undertones, a product that supports the Monarch Butterfly Fund in Madison, WI. Your purchase of any of these gorgeous, easily blendable shades will help conserve nature’s beauty–and wait until you see the packaging.
For the eyes, I’ve been using another Chantecaille product, Mermaid Eyeshadow. I use the color Seashell, which provides a soft, neutral, slightly gold sheen. It doesn’t look cakey or too makeup-y, just adds a bit of glow. This product may be worn wet or dry as eyeshadow or eyeliner; in my low-maintenance routine, I just use the pad of my finger to pat a light layer onto my eyelid–and the eye look is halfway done.
No makeup look is complete without mascara. A longtime favorite that I recently rediscovered is Lancome’s Monsieur Big Volume Mascara. If you love makeup, I’ll bet you have that one mascara that, no matter how many new products you try, you can always trust. Monsieur Big is that for me. It does everything–lengthens, adds volume, keeps lashes separated–and doesn’t flake or smudge off. It’s a cult favorite for a reason.
Finally, if I’m not simply swiping on some lip balm, I like to sport a bright lip color. There is something about wearing a perfectly applied red lip that feels so empowering (I’m sure there have been studies on this). I recently wore Westman Atelier’s Lip Suede in Le Rouge to a press event and it stayed on all night, through champagne and all. It’s a bright tomato color that enlivens the complexion and whitens the teeth. What’s not to love?
